Despite Lennon’s incredible success at Celtic, he has been overlooked for jobs in the Premier League. He believes he stands a better chance as a free agent in the job market.

Lennon, who won three Scottish titles in four glorious years in charge, has gone for jobs at Norwich, Cardiff, Sunderland and West Brom in the past but been overlooked every time.

The former Leicester midfielder, who will be a BBC pundit at the World Cup, loved his time at Celtic, but the standard of Scottish football meant that the Champions League was the only remaining challenge.

Lennon became fed-up with only having six exciting games each season in the Champions League group stages, as the title has become a precession for Celtic.

It is a sad indictment of Scottish football that Lennon would swap the Glasgow giants for a smaller club in England, but that is the grim reality of the game there.

Lennon said: “The club are in a very strong position and I wish the fans and the club all the very best for the future.”

Although the Baggies are a possibility for Lennon this time around, they were made aware of Lennon’s availability during last season but went for Mel instead.

Cardiff also opted for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season after ditching Mackay, shortly after Gus Poyet beat Lennon to the Sunderland job.

Celtic could now go for their former striker and terrace idol Henrik Larsson, who is currently boss of Falkenbergs in his native Sweden.

Mackay - who hails from Bellshill, near Glasgow - is also an option, but it is thought he has to give an answer to Norwich, who are ready to make him their new boss as successor to the sacked Chris Hughton.